Jeb Bush on White House run: 'I'm not there yet in my life'

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush said the 2012 election would have been a good time for him to run politically, but he personally is not ready to have made a run for office.

 

TAMPA, Fla. – Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Sunday that he’s “not motivated” to seek the White House and follow in the footsteps of his presidential brother and father.

Bush, whom many Republicans had implored to run for president this year, acknowledged on “Meet the Press” that 2012 would have offered a prime opportunity for him to seek the Republican presidential nomination.

Recommended: GOP elders describe high stakes for Romney in Tampa

But Bush, who had been scheduled to speak here on Monday night of the Republican National Convention before weather forced the cancelation of that day’s activities, would not rule out a future run for president, though he did not seem eager to do so.

“I don't think about it. I'm not motivated by it. It takes an incredible amount of discipline and ambition,” Bush told moderator David Gregory.

“I'm not there yet in my life,” the former Florida governor added.

Recommended: McCain: Further delays to GOP convention 'could be harmful'

Jeb Bush’s father, George H.W. Bush, served as president of the United States from 1989-1993, and his brother, George W. Bush, served as president from 2001-2009.

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Lets hope he never gets there in his life. For christ's sake weren't 2 bushs enough?!!!?

    Reply#52 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:03 PM EDT

    Of course not, they protected all life. Obama has the most extreme position on abortion of any politician. He was against legislation for children born alive during abortion procedures to receive basic medical care, and just let these living children die, pathetic! Tens of millions have been killed in the womb. Who knows how many of them were women? Obama supports a policy that is the ultimate "war on women", to snuff them out in the womb before they can even become women, one of the most cowardly acts around!

    • 1 vote
    #52.1 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:21 PM EDT

    So the government is to stay out of one's life except when it involves a woman's uterus. I personally am pro-life but that doesn't mean I have the right to force my personal beliefs on someone else. I can inform others of the pros and cons of abortion but the final choice is not MINE to make nor is it the business of our government.

    • 1 vote
    #52.2 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:54 PM EDT

    Of course not, they protected all life.

    Estimates differ but there are at least 100,000 Iraqis who are dead because of the last Bush.

    Protected all life... hahahahahaha, you are funny!

      #52.3 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 2:16 PM EDT

      EEngineer- Don't forget the 5000 Americans troops

        #52.4 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 8:27 PM EDT
        Reply

        Good. We're certainly not waiting for Jeb either....

        • 1 vote
        Reply#53 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:09 PM EDT

        Bush 1 was OK. I voted for him the first time. He was and remains a good man, a moderate Republican. Bush 2 was a tragedy. I voted for him the first time. It was the biggest mistake of my life. I voted for Reagan twice. That was ignorance on my part since he was nothing more than a turncoat in disguise. Now that the Republican politicians are basically corporate whores, cheerleaders for the wealthy, disenfranchisers of the poor and middle class, supporters of financial corruption, warmongers and religious proselytisers I'll never vote Republican again.

        • 1 vote
        Reply#54 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:12 PM EDT

        God bless you Jeb! Your courage, morals, and leadership are what this country so desperately needs. Our current president is destroying this country!

        • 2 votes
        Reply#55 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:15 PM EDT

        LOL. The very last thing we need is another extreme right-wing Republican president. The destruction of our economy started with President Reagan's first term, his massive spending which created a recession, and his "trickle down" economic theory and the embracing of such garbage by other Republicans, although we did have a vibrant economy and the creation of millions of new jobs during President Clinton's two terms. President G.W. Bush's massive spending and stewardship of the economy resulted in a depression almost as bad as the Great Depression of the thirties. The resultant mess was dumped in President Obama's lap. Our current national debt is the result of attempts to keep the American economy from being flushed into the sewer.

        Of course, had Senator McCain been elected we would be engaged in a dozen wars, taxes for corporations and the wealthy would probably be about 5%, military spending would be about two trillion dollars a year and most of our jobs would be outsourced to Asia, South America and Mexico. Social Security and Medicare would be nonexistent and tens of millions of Americans would be sleeping under bridge decks, eating out of dumpsters and dying on a massive scale due to a lack of health care.

        • 1 vote
        #55.1 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 2:02 PM EDT

        Hahaha Psycho where did you come up with this UN American nonsense from...PsychoLiberialsAgainstUS.cn?

          #55.2 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 2:45 PM EDT
          Reply

          Lord Almighty !! Weren't two Bushs serving as president enough to convince the people of this country that we need a third about like we need a new smallpox epidemic? This Bush fixation is getting to be like the "Friday The 13th" movie series where Jason keeps coming back to create more carnage. We don't need any more Bush political horror movies.

            Reply#56 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:20 PM EDT

            HEY, JEBBIE, it was your unsmart brother who caused all of this worldwide mess Obama continues to clean up and hopefully has 4 more years to do so!! SHAMEFUL!!

              Reply#57 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:23 PM EDT

              Lol, you're kidding right?

              • 2 votes
              #57.1 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:25 PM EDT

              No he is not. Liberals believe that Obama actually cares about them. We know that Romney doesn't. I guarantee you Obama don't care about individual liberty either.

                #57.2 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:28 PM EDT

                No, he's not kidding. He hit the nail on the head. "W" has his head buried in the sand somewhere praying that his butt isn't showing! Nah, he's under a rock somewhere and not even invited to the convention. That's funny. His own party is eliminating him. He's a LOSER and an idiot!

                • 1 vote
                #57.3 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:29 PM EDT
                Reply

                Its bad enough our choice is Obama or Romney. Jeb would be a nightmare.

                • 1 vote
                Reply#58 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:26 PM EDT

                You may as well forget it Jeb for we had too many years in the Bushes already and look what it got us' two wars,a deficit threw the roof and a strapped economy of which Republicans deny.

                • 1 vote
                Reply#59 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:26 PM EDT

                OMG. Another one? The USA will be STUUUUUPPPPIIIDDDDD to ever consider another Bush! It's disgusting.

                • 2 votes
                Reply#60 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:26 PM EDT

                I hope this guy never makes it to the white house even as a guest. The last Bush with Dick the Dick Chaney ruined this country and we are still trying to recover. I doubt that this Bush is dumber than the last one but you can never tell due to the fact they were raised in the same house. This guy helped the Gop steal the election away from Al Gore.

                One of the greatest president's in the country history President Obama will adjust all the mistakes by the previous Bush. 4 more years, 4 more years

                • 1 vote
                Reply#61 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:30 PM EDT

                As a Floridian , I can say we've had some good Governors from both parties.

                Lawton Chiles, Crist, Martinez and Jeb Bush do come to mind.

                Today, we're not so lucky in the Governor department.

                Frankly, If Jeb was President instead of W. I doubt we would be in such a poor situation nationwide. He would not have let Cheney run the place.

                If Jeb was running instead of Romney. Then FL would NOT be a toss up state. It would be firmly voting R.

                The Democratic party should be counting their lucky stars he is not running.

                And yes , I am a registered Democrat.

                • 1 vote
                Reply#62 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:31 PM EDT

                Great post!! I ditto everything you said.

                  #62.1 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:38 PM EDT
                  Reply

                  @Chris-749391--you do understand that printing obvious untruths is considered slander and you could be prosecuted. There is enough true fodder from the GOP's...why would you exaggerate, mischaracterize, and fictionalize Columba Bush's record?

                  I am an actively campaigning Democrat, and I take issue when Dem's use the unethical tricks of the GOP.

                  • 1 vote
                  Reply#63 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:36 PM EDT

                  and you also lied about Jeb's experiences in Venezuela.

                    #63.1 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:41 PM EDT

                    Chris failed to point out even the customs official said it was "nothing".

                    http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1999-06-22/news/9906220022_1_columba-bush-jeb-bush-governor-s-wife

                    Yes, now I'll be called a DINO.

                    Actually, Jeb would be called a RINO today.

                    The extremes own the political parties.

                    • 1 vote
                    #63.2 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 2:02 PM EDT

                    So true about the extremes owning both party's. I don't recognize either.

                      #63.3 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 2:12 PM EDT

                      Hahaha... Tinkerbell....Just another Liberal UN American Fairy out to Sprinkle Down Nonsense on US once again!

                      Don't breathe its dust.....It's Probably illegal and Highly Contagious!

                        #63.4 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 2:48 PM EDT

                        MUW-you are a perfect example..nothing constructive to contribute, just spreading ignorant, demeaning hate. if I truly had fairy dust boorish, demeaning prevaricators would be the first to go. poof.

                          #63.5 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 2:54 PM EDT

                          Ah yes spoken like a TRUE Fairy..........Maybe you shouldn't start what you are too stupid & hateful to finish!

                          Folks you just have to love these Sock Puppets & TROLLS for even the Vines needs the FERTILIZER of Free Speech!

                          But Gee that Fairy "Dust" Sure Smells.......

                            #63.6 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 3:34 PM EDT
                            Reply

                            Hey Jeb, Here's Praying that you will Never Be Ready or Get Ready. You're family has taken enough "Blood Money" from the Saudis. No More Bushes!

                              Reply#64 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:39 PM EDT

                              Never another Bush. Never ever! Our country cannot afford more of this so-called dynasty

                                Reply#65 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:43 PM EDT

                                Hey Jeb! Come on down! That would be a sure win for the Dems, or even the Green Party! This country is TIRED of the GD Bushes! Its bad enough your twerpy brother was responsible for 9/11!

                                  Reply#66 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:48 PM EDT

                                  Sorry Jeb, your big brother blew it for you. He was the worst POTUS ever. It would have been better if you had run in 2000 and/or 2004 following Poppy.

                                    Reply#67 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:50 PM EDT

                                    I'm glad he's not motivated to seek the Oval office as I think our country isn't motivated to even see him run for the presidency ever as we've had enough Bush in that role to last us until 2020 or later before even seeing that name as a candidate. Or 2024, 2028.....

                                      Reply#68 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:51 PM EDT

                                      Oh I can't wait until King "Jeb" Bush inherits all those Super Secret Powers POMPUS Obama has stolen from US like the "Super Power" of Assassination and Indefinite Detention without Trial of American Citizens.....There won't be a Free Roaming "Liberal" or Real American left free on the Planet!

                                      Hahaha all you UN Liberals loved it when Back Door Barry stole & abused those new Presidential Powers for his own POMPUSNESS....So now what ya gonna do when King Bush uses them against YOU.........Call Ghost Busters?

                                      Well what comes around comes back around and next time YOUR it! All of you Freedom Posters against Bush & Iraq who suddenly went every so quite after the UN American Obomination was Elected...Do you think THEY have forgotten your names?

                                      Hmm maybe that's why der Homeland Of Insecurity bought 1.4 Billion Rounds of Jacked Hollow Point Bullets... For a Liberal Dose of Target Practice!

                                      So Wake America it has ALWAYS been US against THEM and THEM is Winning! Otherwise soon you will wake up in THEIR UN Gray State, forced to eat THEIR UN Soylent Green and for THEIR UN Educated.... Google it!

                                      I just hope THEY have a good quality control system that EXCLUDES ALL of you so called NEO Liberals & NEO Conservatives....Your Hypocritical Toxic Waste has Poisoned enough Americans already!

                                      Jeb Bush still waiting in the Wings....Just One More Reason to Refuse To Re-Elect ANY Incumbents be they DemoRAT or RepubloRAT especially NOT that Al-Qaeda Supporting HERO of Goldman Sachs & Professional Wall Streets Favorite LIAR To US Barry Bush-Wacker!

                                        Reply#69 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:57 PM EDT

                                        Please take your meds..or admit yourself to the nearest mental health facility...you present with disorganized thinking and a tendency to violence.

                                          #69.1 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 2:15 PM EDT

                                          You need to double up on the blue pill, MUW, before you cause yourself to have a stroke or heart attack.

                                          • 1 vote
                                          #69.2 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 2:23 PM EDT

                                          Wow I caught a Fairy & a Psycho Sock Puppet.....

                                          Ah it seem Folks here two more Nasty Little Petty One Line Wall Street Computer Generated Sock Puppets ....I'd keep them but they tend to stink up the place REAL BAD and are neither rare or hard to find.

                                          If you are interested in their kind of mental disease vector here's some more information to educate yourselves....

                                          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sockpuppet_%28Internet%29

                                          Oh well I'm sure I'll find a one with a brain someday.....But then it would be a TROLL!

                                          en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_(Internet)

                                          Just remember Folks if you catch one be careful Sock Puppets and Trolls are an Invasive Species.... Highly contagious and out to Infect all the Vines with their Wall Street Masters Mental Disease of Political Partisanship Nonsense.....Always practice Catch & Exterminate!

                                          Squash them like the Filthy Slimy little Psycho Fairy Little Bugs they are whenever & where ever you find them lurking and hiding in the Vines no matter which side of the Same Party put them in here!

                                          Psst Don't Re-Elect ANY of these DEMO/REPUB Incumbents....Not even the Killer Bee DRONE Obama the HERO of Goldman Sachs and #1 Secret Supporter of Al-Qaeda in Syria & Libya!

                                            #69.3 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 2:34 PM EDT
                                            Reply

                                            Thanks for the info: EEngineer

                                            Yes, the mostly ignorant majority does still blame Bush for the economic

                                            collapse. The informed minority realizes that the economic problem is

                                            rooted in a belief that began decades ago and supported by both Dems and

                                            Repubs - that every American who wants a home should be able to buy one ...

                                            even if they could not afford it.

                                            Oh, bullcrap! Let's take a look at the record...

                                            From the moment Bush entered the WH, he was pushing his American Dream

                                            Downpayment initiative. From a radio address to the nation in June, 2001,

                                            just six months after Bush took office:

                                            For instance, while the rate of homeownership amongst all Americans is

                                            nearly 68 percent, the rate among African-American and Hispanic families is

                                            under 50 percent. One particular program, the American Dream Downpayment

                                            Fund, will provide $200 million in downpayment assistance to help 130,000

                                            low-income families buy homes.

                                            Less than a year later in March, 2002:

                                            I commend Chairman Oxley, Housing Subcommittee Chairwoman Roukema, and

                                            Congressman Green, for introducing H.R. 3995, the "Housing Affordability

                                            for America Act of 2002" and look forward to working with them on the bill

                                            in the legislative process. Increasing housing opportunities for all

                                            Americans is a high priority for my Administration. In particular, I am

                                            committed to increasing the opportunities for minority families to become

                                            homeowners.

                                            Please note the sponsors of this bill: Oxley and Roukema are both staunch

                                            Republicans. Although this bill was never enacted into law it is obvious

                                            that Republicans in 2002, urged on by President Bush, are making minority

                                            home ownership a top priority.

                                            Also in June, 2002, in a speech given at a church in Atlanta, Georgia, Bush

                                            provided more details about how he was going to increase minority home

                                            ownership:

                                            And so by the year 2010, we must increase minority home owners by at least

                                            5.5 million.

                                            First, the single greatest barrier to first time homeownership is a high

                                            downpayment. It is really hard for many, many, low income families to make

                                            the high downpayment. And so that's why I propose and urge Congress to

                                            fully fund the American Dream Downpayment Fund. This will use money,

                                            taxpayers' money to help a qualified, low income buyer make a downpayment.

                                            ... to streamline the process, make the rules simpler, so everybody

                                            understands what they are -- makes the closing much less complicated. We

                                            certainly don't want there to be a fine print preventing people from owning

                                            their home. We can change the print, and we've got to.

                                            And we want to fully implement the Section 8 housing program, homeownership

                                            program. The program will provide vouchers that first-time home buyers can

                                            use to help pay their mortgage or apply to their downpayment.

                                            Do you get that? Bush wanted to take Section 8 renters and help them buy

                                            homes! People who couldn't afford their own rent - how the hell were they

                                            going to pay for a house?

                                            You will note that many of the quotes above refer to the American Dream

                                            Downpayment Fund. This fund was established by the American Dream

                                            Downpayment Act, passed by the House and Senate and signed into law by

                                            George W. Bush in 2003. What was in this act? Here is a copy of the fact

                                            sheet that was passed out before the speech announcing the push for this

                                            legislation one year before it was passed:

                                            The Administration also implemented a hybrid Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM)

                                            product that makes it easier for new homebuyers to stay in their homes in

                                            the first few years.

                                            Substantially increasing, by at least $440 billion, the financial

                                            commitment made by the government-sponsored enterprises involved in the

                                            secondary mortgage market specifically targeted toward the minority market.

                                            Both ARMs and the secondary mortgage market were indicted as key factors in

                                            the housing meltdown by most economists.

                                            All legislation is documented on government websites. Look this one up; it

                                            is quite interesting:

                                            American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI) - signed into law on Dec 16,

                                            2003.

                                            Sponsor: Sen. Wayne Allard [R-CO]

                                            Co-sponsors: Samuel Brownback [R-KS]; Conrad Burns [R-MT]; Ben Campbell

                                            [R-CO]; Michael Crapo [R-ID]; Michael Enzi [R-WY]; Charles Hagel [R-NE];

                                            Lisa Murkowski [R-AK]; Richard Santorum [R-PA]; Jefferson Sessions [R-AL]

                                            Note that there was not one Democrat co-sponsoring this bill. The bill was

                                            sponsored by a Republican, co-sponsored only by other Republicans, passed

                                            by a Republican majority in the House and Senate and signed into law by a

                                            Republican president.

                                            You are wrong! Republicans in general and George W. Bush in particular are

                                            responsible for the entire mortgage meltdown! The last thing this country

                                            needs is Republicans back in power to do it all again!

                                            • 1 vote
                                            Reply#70 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 2:18 PM EDT

                                            Jeb is a bore and lacks the drive to pursue the office. Obama is not a bore and has the drive, but lacks the smarts and skill to be in the office.

                                            • 1 vote
                                            Reply#71 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 2:39 PM EDT

                                            Ex-RNC Chairman Steele was not even invited to this year's Women are Meat Republicanfest. Steele, who led the RNC to win hundreds of new seats in the last election, is deemed too liberal now! I guess you have to be willing to don full KKK attire to qualify for the Women Are Meat Republican Party now that the Tea Party has changed it into the Koch Party.

                                              Reply#72 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 2:40 PM EDT

                                              Glad to hear it, "Jeb". (What's that short for - "Jebediah"? Great - another Bush, this time with a biblical name.)

                                              Two Bush presidencies is certainly MORE THAN ENOUGH. Let's not do it again, huh?

                                                Reply#73 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 3:31 PM EDT

                                                If you can believe the polls, over 40% want to get back to W's policies. Actually, a more extreme level of Bush policies. Deregulate banks and wall street with massive new tax cuts for the wealthy. Throw in a war with Iran. I'm wondering if these people think that Bush's policies might work better if they can make abortion and contraceptives illegal or if they think it's Romney's magic underwear?

                                                  Reply#74 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 4:12 PM EDT

                                                  I'm NOT a Bush Family supporter! However, Jeb can't run by his own admission months ago. The GOP has gone too far to the right. It's no longer the party that Ronald Reagan could win over. He would be considered too liberal.

                                                  But tough talk about the state of the party on Monday by former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida — who went so far as to say that Ronald Reagan and his father would have a “hard time” fitting in during this Tea Party era — exhibited a growing distance between the family, which until not very long ago embodied mainstream Republicanism, and the no-compromise conservative activists now driving the party.

                                                    Reply#75 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 5:00 PM EDT

                                                    Jeb Bush was as lousy a gov.As W. was a president. Just what we need another Bush president I can see him now just like his brother holding hands with another oil sheik giving a guided tour of the white house like a realtor trying to find a rich buyer.Can he seriously think after W. he has even a remote chance of getting elected to anything? The Bush name is mud after the steller job his brother did of bankrupting the country with his trumped up war in Iraq, and his secret energy policy that only Cheney (Darth Vader) new about. The late shows can't even top that joke!

                                                    • 1 vote
                                                    Reply#76 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 5:30 PM EDT

                                                    I think even Cheney, with his bad heart and old age and all, has a better chance of getting elected than another Bush. Even Romney stands a better chance.

                                                    At least Issac knows how evil this bunch of lunatics are.

                                                    • 1 vote
                                                    #76.1 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 6:23 PM EDT
                                                    Reply
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